Author's note: My fanfic is over 50,000 words, the length of a novella.
With a week left before finals and students about to arrive for the tournament, Beacon Academy was abuzz with activity. The East Dorms were being vacuumed, flyers for study break events with free school supplies were posted everywhere and rumors were going around that there might be a shortage of coffee. Of course no one took that seriously; their headmaster would never allow such a thing.
Several professors extended their office hours in order to fit in time for all their students. So instead of eating the lunch his wife made in the teachers' lounge, Dr. Oobleck was munching on his chicken salad sandwich while going over Karai's final draft.
"I see you focused on tales of knights and heroes of legend." He kept reading while she talked, only pausing to write a comment or take a sip of coffee.
"Well I figured it made sense, you know, considering Huntsmen and Huntresses used to be called knights. These figures are essentially Huntsmen prototypes." Karai took a sip of her own coffee. Thanks to finals she was going on six hours of sleep a night.
"Does Earth have similar stories?"
"Yes, but they vary between cultures. In Japan samurai value obedience, while Western knights seemed to focus more on religious piety, at least in the olden days. Plus there were hardly any stories about women taking up a sword and fighting in either of those cultures."
Dr. Oobleck turned to the last page. "You have a long bibliography." He looked up and smiled at her. "And even without that, your paper is at least a page longer than I asked. You really seemed to put a lot effort into this Karai."
"I don't believe in doing things half-heartedly." Karai didn't notice that she had crossed her legs exactly like Weiss.
"And what do you think, my dear girl, are the qualities that make a noble knight?"
"Strength and courage, obviously. They need to be exceptionally skilled fighters. Strategy. Authority. Compassion. And of course honor."
"Honor?"
"Keeping one's word, not attacking the innocent. I think a noble knight doesn't have to fight fair, though."
Dr. Oobleck raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Care to elaborate?"
"If your opponent is a threat to you or someone else, or did something despicable, you should be allowed to use whatever means necessary to bring them down. If a White Fang member was attacking an innocent, would stabbing them in the back be that bad?"
"Anything else?"
Karai thought for a moment. She looked down at her coffee, watching the steam rise to make fleeting patterns.
"Optimism," she said at last. "Hope. Maybe even a bit of naiveté. Someone who thinks even the enemy has a shot at redemption, deserves mercy."
"A simple soul?"
Karai looked up, surprised. She had almost forgotten that proverb. "Yeah. A simple, honest soul."
Dr. Oobleck nodded. "I do believe I have met a few people like that in my life."
"So have I."
Meanwhile in Vale, preparations were in full swing. Balloons in green, yellow and red were tied up in bunches or strung over the streets near the inner harbor. A man was hanging up a sign reading "Welcome to Vale." The water busy with activity as ships unloaded people and supplies.
"The Vytal festival. Oh this is absolutely wonderful." Weiss clasped her hands together, a dreamy smile on her face.
"I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much Weiss. It's kind of weirding me out," Ruby said.
"How could you not smile? A festival dedicated to the cultures of the world. There will be dances, parades, a tournament. Oh the amount of planning and organization that goes into this even is simply breathe taking." She was the only one on her team that attended the last Vytal festival four years ago in Atlas. She more than anyone knew how complicated and perfectly timed this all was. Just the fireworks alone probably required three PowerPoint presentations.
"You really know how to take a good thing and make it sound boring,"
"Quiet you."
As team RWBY meandered around the docks, Mona Lisa was sitting on a bench nearby, talking on her scroll.
"Why didn't you just take an airship like the rest of the people in your school?" She listened for a moment, frowning. "I don't care if you had a bet-wait, how did you pay for a boat ride to Vale?" Mona Lisa started swearing, not caring who was around. "God damn it Sun, why is it every time you do something stupid I-" she paused. "Okay, fine. I'll meet you there. But if you get arrested on the way I'm not bailing you out." She nodded. "Yeah, love you too, bye."
Mona Lisa quickly walked down the block and turned the corner. "Cousins," she muttered.
Violet was pacing the length of her dorm room. It was two weeks until her birthday. She honestly didn't know if she would rather freeze time or speed it up.
Sapphire calmly watched Violet descend into the depths of existential madness while practicing her plies on the metal bar she nailed across the window.
"What if he's dead?" Violet froze for a second. "What if he's dead and she couldn't bring herself to tell me?"
"Maybe. But she would probably think getting your hopes up is worse." Sapphire extended leg behind her, one arm high above her head.
"Or what if he faked his own death? And she doesn't want anyone to know he's still alive?"
"So she could have just told you his name and that he was dead."
Violet sat on her bed. She hugged her pillow against her chest. Finally she would be getting the answers she waited for since forever. Every emotion in existence was pulsing through her.
Karai walked in through the door holding a cup of tea. She sat down so close to her that Violet could feel her arm brush against hers.
Okay, now she was feeling every emotion in existence.
"Black tea usually helps my nerves."
"Thanks." Violet took a small sip. She looked down at the cup so she wouldn't have to look at her partner. This wasn't the time to think about the kiss or whatever they may or may not have. One freak out at a time. Sapphire plopped down on Violet's other side and wrapped an arm around her.
"Whatever happens, we're here for you."
"And in the end it doesn't matter who your father is. Your destiny is yours to right." Karai smiled at her, amber eyes shining. Violet looked away, thanking both of them while trying not to blush.
"Hey Karai," Sapphire said in an obvious attempt to change the subject, "I love your new bracelets." Instead of her regular arm guards, Karai was wearing silver bracelets with intricate carvings.
"They're beautiful," Violet said. And not her style at all.
"Thanks." She smiled in that feline way that usually meant trouble of some kind. Violet figured she probably stole them from Weiss to bug her.
"You know," Sapphire went on, "after exams would be the perfect time to go shopping. We'll have two weeks to do whatever."
"Like sleep." Karai laid back on Violet's bed. Her hands went behind her head. "Winter break, our saving grace."
Violet shook her head. "Before we relax, we have to get through finals. We're going to spy on the TCRI Sunday, so tonight we're studying."
"What about meeting Mona Lisa's cousin?" Sapphire got up to continue stretching.
"We're meeting him tomorrow."
"I don't understand why this is causing such a problem."
"That is the problem."
Weiss and Blake had been arguing for two hours now. Since they saw that robbery, Blake had been actually defending a group of terrorists, not to mention a stowaway. Weiss was having a difficult time understanding why someone training to uphold the law would side with blatant criminals.
"You realize that you're defending an organization that hates humanity, don't you? The Fanus of the White Fang are pure evil." Not to mention a stowaway. Blake had been arguing with Weiss for two hours now since they saw the robbery crime scene. Ruby and Yang refused to get involved. Weiss was having a difficult time understanding why someone training to uphold the law would side with blatant criminals.
"There's no such thing as pure evil." Blake jumped up. "Why do you think they hate humanity so much? It's because of people like Cardin, people like you, that force the White Fang to take such drastic measures."
"People like me?" What did she do? She never pushed someone in a locker.
"You're discriminatory!"
"I'm a victim!" How dare she! Weiss took a deep breathe, steadying herself. "You want to know why I despise the White Fang? Why I don't particularly trust the Fanus?" She moved over to the window, looking out at the full moon. "It's because they've been at war with my family for years. War, as in actual bloodshed."
11 year old Weiss manages to sneak a newspaper from the maid while she's dusting. She runs into her room and locks the door. Sinking into the carpet, she sits alone in her room, and reads.
"38 year old Nathanial Grey Found Dead Last Night. Foul Play Suspected."
Underneath the headline is a blurry photo a reporter managed to take from behind the tape. The Atlas police are carrying a body bag. Another one is taking away the gun Uncle Nate had on his mantel. Weiss knew it was never loaded. They must have used something else.
"My grandfather's company has had a target painted across its back for as long as I can remember. And ever since I was a child, I saw family friends disappear. Board members, executed. An entire train car of Dust, stolen." Weiss didn't see Blake's expression at the moment, the way her eyes softened and her lips quivered just a bit. If she did, she would have known that she lost people too.
"And every night, my father would come home furious. And that made for very. Difficult. Childhood." She slammed her fist against the bookshelf.
Frost Schnee slams his 13 year old daughter against the dining room wall. His growl sounds almost inhuman.
"Don't talk back to me, young lady! I will not be questioned by my own daughter. I know what is right and I will not tolerate impertinence!" He abruptly let go of her. Weiss tries to stop shaking as he took his glass of wine and sipped it.
"I have made myself clear." He turned to go.
"But Father-"
Schnee threw his glass in her direction. The dark red wine stained the wall like the blood that dripped down Weiss' cheek. She did not cry out. She merely watched him leave the room before going to get the first aid kit.
Tears never helped.
Ruby put a hand on her shoulder. "Weiss, I-"
"No!" She brushed her hand away. Then she turned to Blake. "You want to know why I despise the White Fang? It's because they're a bunch of liars. Thieves. And murderers!"
"Well maybe we were just tired of being pushed around!"
In that moment of silence, one could hear a heart skipping a beat.
"I. . ." Blake darted out of the room.
"Blake, wait! Come back!"
